Some downtown businesses in and around the security zone say they plan to remain open for normal operating hours even though there will be measures in place to prevent unauthorized access to the NATO area, such as fencing and barriers.
NATO Village
Officials say part of downtown Dayton will be transformed into a “NATO Village” security zone from Wednesday, May 21, to Tuesday, May 27.
Dayton is going to welcome about 300 parliamentarians from the 32 NATO countries, plus their families, staff and other officials. International media also will attend, and the total visitor count could exceed 1,200 people.
During the event, a northern section of downtown will be restricted for vehicular and pedestrian traffic. People will not be allowed inside the NATO Village unless they have proper credentials and there will be a heavy police presence.
The perimeter of the security zone is still being determined. Dayton City Manager Shelley Dickstein said that outreach regarding the boundary will “begin in earnest in the next week or two.”
The proposed boundaries on the NATO event website include Monument Avenue, Wilkinson Street, Fourth Street and St. Clair Street.
NATO events will be hosted at the Benjamin & Marian Schuster Performing Arts Center, the Victoria Theatre and CareSource buildings.
A resident and business information guide for the spring Parliamentary Assembly says that downtown residents and businesses in the NATO Village area will continue to have access to their properties during the events.
“Residents will be advised on specific procedures regarding their buildings, including parking restrictions, identification requirements and access points,” says the information guide. “Dayton police personnel will be going door to door contacting residents and businesses.”
The information guide says downtown businesses in the security zone should decide whether they want to stay open or have their employees work remotely.
A website that was created to share information about the spring NATO session says, “Access to commercial buildings and businesses that choose to remain open during the Assembly’s time in Dayton will be maintained.”
It’s possible some downtown residents will be out of town and some businesses will be closed one or more days during the NATO Assembly because of the Memorial Day holiday weekend.
Kelsey Omlor, the owner of Two Social, said she plans to stick to normal hours during the NATO event. Two Social is an axe throwing and entertainment bar that’s located at 123 E. Third St. in the Fire Blocks District.
Omlor said it’s a challenging time for small businesses, but she’s optimistic that the assembly will be good for downtown.
“We’re excited to see Dayton hosting an event of this scale and hope it will be a great opportunity for the city and local businesses, including ours,” she said.
Lauren Gay, owner of Joui Wine at 117 E. Third St., said she also plans to maintain normal operating hours at the wine bar during the Assembly.
Gay said Joui Wine is a new business that’s still finding its footing, and she could not afford to shut it down for multiple days.
Gay said business owners are nervous about how everything will go, but they hope the session will be beneficial for the health of the downtown business community. Gay said she hopes NATO attendees and guests will visit and support downtown businesses.
“I hope that it ends up being a huge success for us all, and the NATO guests leave with positive feelings about their time in Dayton,” she said. “In order for that to happen, we will need a lot more communication and collaboration with the downtown businesses over the next few months.”
Credit: Submitted Photo
Credit: Submitted Photo
The United States has not hosted a NATO session since the fall of 2003, when it was held in Orlando, Florida. The spring 2025 session will commemorate the 30th anniversary of the Dayton Peace Accords.
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